Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-11-10
MEXICAN VETERANS.
Continued from fecond Pags.

OF delegates to prepare and submit state
constitution, along with resolution for
annexation. This drew the constitution
and the vote ia favor Of annexation
was made unanimous. This action
OF the republic CT Texas was
communicated to the government of the
United States, and It appearing that both
countries had formally and solemnly
agreed to annexation, Texas, on the 90 n
Of December, 1916, was formally admitted
into the sisterbood Of states, and thus on
,ft1at day the Respondent lone star OF
Texas glided into the galaxy Of stars en-
blemized in the national fsg-an added
glory TO the American Union-aDd this is
the history OF the flag Of the Lone Star
entrusted to your hands to-day.
Let me cay to the fair do
nors who have 60 gracefully and
so appropriately shown their
respect for the veterans of the Mexican
weT, that it Is gratefully accepted, and
that each member Of the association will
return to his home with most pleasant
memory of you and Of your beautiful gift
II will be placed in the archives Of the
National Association and sacredly pre-
served. might well rest here, but IS an
nexation was the pretext for the wer, and
IS the first battle was fought on Texas
soil, 1 shall extend my remarks
to cover some historical poiRts.
beg you to remember, sitter the compile
ton Of annexation December 30, 1915,
the Mexican Minister at Washington
withdrew, and diplomatic relations
ceased. The next we hear from Mexico
that government Claimed that
the Nueces and not the Rio
Grande was the true boundary
OF Texas. As the United States was
bound by the constitution to provide for
the common defense, and as the articles
Of annexation specifically required the
United States to maintsin the true
boundary, which was beyond question
the Rio GraIde, the government sent Gen
eral Zachary Taylor to Corpus Christi,
where he organized the ermy Of occu-
patton. Learning that the Mexicans
had crossed to our side CT the river he
moved his army, in the spring Of 1916, to
a point where Brownsville now stands,
opposite Mstsmoras. There he left the
Seventh IIfantrY, Bragg's Battery, Lords
Company and an eighteen FOUNDER bat
terry, with orders to erect earth-Works
NhO AOAN bLiS AOL GIN III VIZ xAlS1hOO w
May l, 1916, moved back to Point IsSbel,
the base of supplies. Before Daylight on
the morning of the Sd the enemy opened
on the earth-works, atterward known as
Fort Brown, and that fire was kept up
pay and night for six days and nights, but
|. not man left his post OF duty
Arista with the flower of the Mexican
army was on our side+of the river. On
tReS25 h Of April Thornton with squad-
ronsbt dragons hSd been ambushed and
csptuaSd on ousSEn soil.
"Wafasgsd by the acts of Mexico y
On the 8ths OF May, 1916, at the hour OF
| noon, the first battle OF the war opened
on the soil of Texas st Palo Alto. At
| night Arista was completely routed
He rallied the next day an6
again gave battle at Resacs de
Is Palma. Ground cut up By rayiRee and
covered with cbspperal wes Arista'E
chosen battle ground. He was utterly
routed, and fed pell nell TO Ills own side
of the river. The glorious victories OF
Pal0 Alto and Resaca de Ia Palma, and the
successful defense of Fort Brown, al
on Texas soil, opened the war. Who car
tTutbtulIy say, in view Of these irrefutable
historical facts. that the United States
are responsible for the war with Mexico!
They invaded our soil, fred on Fort
Brown, captured Thornton's squadron or
our own soil, and gave battle
to our troops on the soil OF Texas
state of the Union. President Polk in
communicating the capture OF Thornton
to Congress, says, "War exists by the
acts Of Mexico" But the Mexicans hav,
ing withdrawn to their country, our gov
eminent had the right by all the laws OF
war, and it was it's duty to conquer q
lasting peace. General Taylor, there
fore, pushed across the river into Mexico
l have no time for detail, but he met
Ampudia in September, 1916, in the forti
fed city Of Monterey and captured him,
his army and supplies. He net Santa
Anna at Buena Vista on February %
| l847, and routed him. I wish | haC
time to describe the magnificent
conduct Of cur men ST Monterey an(
Buens Vista, the last OF Tsylor's grea
battles.
In the meantime new and grand cam
paign bad been organized, and was car
ried out exactly as planned.
The new army was under the direc
E:cdmmsnd ef the commanding general O
I the army OeuerEl W!AHtIu OSoIe
Banding st Scsrefcio On the 81
eof March, 1847, the lire o
was promptly formed
tShe right resting on Sacrefcio. tn
l9eft on Vergars. Our navy WAS in front
TAus Vera Cruzaand the castle Of San Ju
| an deSE45o8 were hemmed in by land an
sea. On the 22d of March, l847. the sieg
! opened and closed On the 26.h. Th'
surrender of the Mexicans was complete
Gen. Scott having secured base of sup
plies began his grand campaign forward
and the glowing victories came in rapi
uccessioD-Cerro Gordo, April II an
I8; Contrarae, August IS and 20; Cheru
busco, August 20; Molino del Roy, Ser
TENDER 8; C9apultepec, September II
and the stars and stripes f0snDg out t
the breeze over the capitol OF Mexic
September IA, and thus virtually ende
the war. During the whol
of the war after Thornton
capture there was never defes
there was never retreat, and the crowl
ing and last victory in which Scott, wit
less than 10000 men, conquered SAINT
Anna with $4,000, and captured the car
ital city of 200, 600 souls, was the fitin